[sphynx88]

Finally installing mine tomorrow. Anyone have any tips they can offer for putting these on? I have never done headers before so it's new territory for me.

I just put my motor back in so nothing is hooked up right now except for the oil filter which I'll remove. Do I need to raise the engine at all or take off the oil filter adapter?

[Airpowr]

When I put mine in all I had to do was remove the filter housing from the block. Some people have had to remove the starter as well. And the standard raising the front end off the ground unless you're using a lift.

[mbwicz1]

If you have nothing hooked up on the engine, it is probably worth having the engine up a couple of inches. With everything freshly painted, the extra clearance will be a luxury that you will appreciate. I would pull the starter and oil filter, lay a moving blanket over the frame, and get the car up as high as you can. I also did not have the steering shaft in place yet. The more stuff that you have out of the way, the easier it will be to load them in.

On my 72 lemans, I learned (the hard way) that my frame was not straightened properly after an off-road excursion. I had to dimple one tube for clearance on the driver side. I probably had that side on and off a dozen times. Eventually I had it to the point that I did it with the engine mounts connected, but I started with the engine up a couple of inches. After all the time, money, and heartache, I did not want to scratch up things more than I had to.

Oh yeah, test fit them the first time without gaskets. The gaskets that I used had notches so that you could get the end bolts started and then slide the gaskets in place.

I did an install thread, look for it in the exhaust section, August/september this year.

Mike

[sphynx88]

Update:

I wanted to share my experience with getting these installed. Don't have pics at the moment but I'll to change that soon.

To start I should say that I have 0 experience doing headers. I've heard they are a pain in the rear and while I've done everything from tear-down of a block to interior restoration- I've just never had the opportunity.

I had just put in my block, so all that was connected were the mounted bolts. Starter was off as was oilfilter + adapter.

The driver side went in like an absolute dream. In about 3 minutes I had it held in by 2 bolts. The passenger side was a bit trickier. It took me about 20 minutes all together to get it in. The biggest delay was getting it past the transmission bell housing ear. Once I figured that out and got the dipstick out of the way it bolted right up.

On top of it all, Ron got word of my post and gave me a call yesterday (actually called me 3 times) to see how he could help out. He really went above and beyond and I very much appreciate that.

All in all I think I was blessed with this. I never imagined that this would be so easy. Thanks again for the hearders! Can't wait to turn the key and take them for a spin.

[gearbanger]

Yes I will have to agree on these being the easiest. I test fitting mine a couple of times before sending them off to be coated. Everything has been freshly restored so I was being extremely careful not to touch anything and still had both sides on in 20 minutes or so. Really easy!

[455GRIN]

Any chance some of the headers you shipped are for old customers (1 year plus now)? I'm hoping Ron can deliver a Christmas present to me. Thanks and Merry Christmas to all.

[arrowem]

Just crossed the year mark and hoping for a surprise some day from the UPS guy (before the snow melts) Merry Christmas to all!!!

Don't worry Ron I have faith in you.

Jason

[gearbanger]

Got my tri-ys coated and ready to go in. I always obsess over things so I spend about an hour smoothing some of the welds and doing just a little more smoothing in the port openings with some sanding rolls. One thing about mig welding is it will leave some little weld balls stuck to everything. I didnt want that so I sanded and smoothed till they were like a baby's butt all over. Hopefully one day Ron can make these with TIG welds. That would be the only improvement I can really see for these headers. After the coating went on they are soooooo nice! I am totally stoked to hear them run. I also whacked the collectors off some. I have a 3" exhaust so it wont really matter at all, just want extra room between the headers and cross member. I am going to use stainless band clamps so I will have a nice clean look and lose no ground clearance at all.






How freakin awesome is that!

[richiedd]

Looks fantastic. Congratulations!! How about a couple pics of the cutie pie under the covers as well??

[gearbanger]

I hate to highjack this thread....., but you talked me into it

[vtxman]

Wow....... those are "freakin awesome". I can't wait to get mine coated now. I have also been working on smoothing the welds on my tri-y's. I hope mine turn out as nice as those.

You are going to really like the ground clearance.

[roadrage david]

Damm i need mine soon!!been waighting for a year now... who els is waighting for the 2 inch primary round ported headers, mijn are for a 68 bird and manual trans..

[KEN CROCIE]

aronhk: Sorry,but no pix. I'll try to have the car builder in Tx. take some pix.

[oldblueponcho]

Well, at long last! Ron called couple of times today, and we had a couple of good long chats, decent guy! The headers are definitely on their way, and I have a tracking#. Hopefully from here it'll be smooth sailing.

[Skip Fix]

Ken where in Texas?

[KEN CROCIE]

Skip: Austin. pm for contact info.

[455GRIN]

Skip, did you have to pay extra for shipping? when did you order?

rtrta, I ordered about the same time. I thought I was "sponsoring" old orders too. I feel the same way you do about the lack of communication.

Maybe one day my order will show up? or do I have to pay shipping again? Would like to hear from Ron myself.

[Skip Fix]

I ordered a few months ago through Aron. Fit the IA block also, but these will probably be for a 400 block RAIV headed 428ci sized for the 65 GTO with a stick whenever that project gets going! The original IA early GTO headers I have(new) that are way too many separate tubes just look like a pain to seal so will get sold.

The Impala needs the new 409 first but it is behind the Camaro IA project before the GTO.

Gearbanger so you must be the person who left the cat in a carrier by my office's back door 2 New Years Eve's ago because she has a heart murmur! She has all the UPS guys trained where the treat jar is up front to give her one.

[gearbanger]

Hahaaaa....no but mine just showed up at my house too about 4 years ago. I tried to run him off but he had more determination than me!

[Skip Fix]

Had one left this year in the middle of the day before Christmas really sweet overwight gray kitty. Another one to treat for a bite wound while they went to baseball practice-never showed back up.